Sarah Murdoch won't return as ANTM host

Sarah Murdoch won't be returning to host Australia's Next Top Model (ANTM) in 2012.

After famously declaring the wrong winner during her debut season on the pay-TV reality series, it must have taken guts for the model and wife of Lachlan Murdoch to return to the show this year.

But Foxtel announced on Monday that Murdoch is stepping aside from her role as host and co-executive producer of the top-rating show after three series.

"Sarah has made a remarkable contribution to Australia's Next Top Model and was instrumental in propelling the program to its most successful season ever, in 2011," said Brian Walsh, FOXTEL's Executive Director of Television.

"We would like to thank Sarah for her passion, commitment and incredible support of the series. Naturally we are disappointed to lose her but the show goes on."

Murdoch thanked Walsh for his guidance during her time filming the series.

"It has been an incredible opportunity to work on a show as exciting and popular as Australia's Next Top Model," she said.

"Leaving the show has been a very difficult decision for me. Being entrusted to work on all aspects as host and co-executive producer has been a huge experience and I have enjoyed it so much."

In 2010 Murdoch announced the ANTM winner as Kelsey Martinovich when Amanda Ware had actually won the prize, with the blunder blamed on a behind-the-scenes mix-up during the live voting.